Super Short Summary

Myths to Live By by Joseph Campbell is a 1972 collection of essays that explores the influence of myth-making and belief on humanity’s spiritual life, differentiating Western myths and rites from Eastern ones but connecting both to fundamental properties of mythology, and highlights the "hero" archetype whose mission is to combat recurring evil. Campbell examines how societies adapt myths to their conditions, suggests that past mythologies may be inadequate in an empirical age, and predicts a future where scientific advancement fosters a unified spiritual understanding, moving beyond literal interpretations to see myths as symbolic and metaphorical. The book includes discussions on human conflict and war.